Is there something wrong with honoring AMERICANS rather than Russian communists?!? Do you find that trite?

Flashy you are incredulous!

You say: ” “Yawn….so original….what’s wrong with being original and giving something different ?”

“Original”? ….. emulating the USSR is not at all ORIGINAL ! it is an affront to every person exterminated, and exploited by the USSR.

“Something Different” …. DIFFERENT, that it is in the minds of folks that do not know what soviet style socialism stands for.

And as previously stated: “The PA event is analogous to the Hitler Bund marching in Skokie, IL. Now imagine that happening today in Skokie, which is home to a number of holocaust victims and their relatives.” That certainly would be different wouldn’t it?

Apparently in your mind, “DIFFERENT” makes it acceptable.

How is waving the hammer and sicle flag being original?
The band is admitting that they are worthless.

Nadzieja is yearning for her homeland.

It really is a line drawn in the sand between socialism and capitalism. Several presidents have said that if we are not careful, the loss of freedom is only a generation away. Wake up people.

Flashy; Call what you will;
“October Revolution or Bolshevik Revolution” : the RED BANNERS and socialistic outcome is the same.

When a HS marching band takes to the field waving red communist banners which indeed represents the former USSR, it emulates how the communists CELEBRATED
the communist ideology.

“Celebrated” was my choice of words and thus referenced supporting parents comments who said the band should be “artistic”.

The PA event is analogous to the Hitler Bund marching in Skokei IL. and calling it ARTISTIC. Now imagine that happening today in Skokie IL, which is home to a number of holocaust victims and their relatives.

The whole thing in PA. was in bad taste and offensive to many who understand and DETEST socialism.

My words stand!

Pathfinder… I cannot for the life of me figure out why anyone would find this something to call for the chopping of heads. Yes, IT was correct in that it could have been presented somewhat differently. Then again, if everyone’s sensitivities were taken into account, we’d be left with them playing Jingle Bells.

It appears everyone who is ranting against this halftime show assumes the Communist banners were present from minute one. We don’t really know do we? But facts don’t matter eh? Could it have been a portrayal of history from the overthrow of the Tsar until the moment of Bolshevik victory and the Red Star coming out only towards the end? Who knows?

But I would defer to those who saw it as value to the band, the student body and the spectators. I doubt very much there were any commies in the parent group…so they weren’t standing supporting anything of the sort. They, in fact, were praising the show, the teaching, and the education.

It depicted an event in world history which affected this nation and it’s character.

let me ask you this…if the band, for November, put on a T Day presentation…and American Indians went nuts over the depiction…or the band presented T Day as an American Indian would see it …. ya think there’d be an outcry from the Right? Which presentation would cause the outcry? And would it have merit (either one)?

Sorry Flashy I am not just getting the connection between Soviet Socialism and Native American Indians (T day).

How can one possibly compare the atrocity’s of the USSR to a depiction of Thanksgiving.
I have no problem with Russian composers, you can even find Russian classical and WWII patriotic music on U-tube and some of the musical compositions are darn good. I could even recommend a few to you. But having HS students emulate the Soviet is over the line.

What would we have this marching band do for its next “creative artistic endeavor”?
How about dressing them up in SS uniforms, lead by the Drum major appearing as Hitler, there is a history lesson to be told here to isn’t there.

Here is one more option hat may drive the message home.
Picture this: Instead of indians and T day how about KKK outfits waving the stars and bars … that sure would get a response wouldn’t it. And, yes I do place the atrocities of the USSR on level with the KKK.

I guess the subject of the USSR, its origins, and “accomplishments” is something that one simply had to experience in order to understand the depth of its negative impact.

Once again, having 16/17 year old band members march around in olive drab uniforms with red flags displaying the hammer cycle and touting the Russian revolution, even as a historical fact crossed the line. Lets leave this “history lesson” to the Russians, as they have already dealt with it.

Come clean, Flashy, you are a teaher, right

Flashy, are you sure of your heritage? You must have Communist beliefs yourself! Shame on you for lauding this kind of display as “educational.” If so, you are perverted in your view of education.

Only the ignorant and simplistic knee jerker fed by fear and hate would state that the performance was not giving a history lesson and food for thought.

Ditto Patricia

I haven’t seen the shirts with the red flags BUT I can confirm that a few years ago LOTS of kids were wearing Che Guevara shirts!!! These are NOT lies and myths!!! You’re just ignorant!

Oh, and the comment about Mao being on an ornament on the whitehouse Christmas tree??? Absolutely TRUE!!!
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/23/white-house-christmas-decor-featuring-mao-zedong-comes/

The hammer and sickle were symbols of the evil communist GOVERNMENT! NOT the peasants!!! Do you REALLY think that ANY of those peasants who came under the EVIL and murderous Stalinists would want to CELEBRATE those symbols?!? The peasants were TRICKED into supporting the communist revolution just as Americans are being TRICKED into supporting it here! They thought that they were going to get something better! Well, history repeats itself! Get ready!

Regardless of what you believe, Nancy, historic fact says that the hammer and sickle were the symbols of the working class, the backbone of the Russian Revolution. The Bolsheviks perverted this symbol, but that does not negate the selfless sacrifices that the common man made to try to improve his country for himself and his family. That is what is worth celebrating.

Thanx Voltaire for your comments. between Nancy being unwilling to learn and RedSweep being way off base in his history…there needs to be some truth and serious common sense displayed before the asylum is taken over by the patients…

My comment about the Russian Revolution was not meant to be an expository on the events leading up to it and following it a la “War and Peace” but to put in simple terms the fact that the murderous consequences were not in any way, shape, or form, beneficial to the revolting masses who expected an equitable and fair government.

No one was suggesting the banning of ideas or books but that straw man was set up and demolished. Thank you.

You say in part: “Russian peasantry who finally united to be free from czarist oppression”?
The so called “peasants swapped” one brand of serfdom for another. (remember the battle was between the White and RED Russians.) And, not all the revolutionaries were peasants. It was Stalin who gained power by “eliminating the competition” and eventually oppressed not only Russians but countless American immigrants and WWII pilots who were unlucky enough to be shot down in Russian held territory. The Russians took 95,000 prisoners at Stalingrad only 5,000 managed to make it back to Germany. All the Russian Soldiers captured by the Greman’s were returned to Russia and exterminated by Stalin. Here words for your vocabulary “GULOG” and “SIBERIA” …. that is where Stalin sent more than 17 million people as slave laborers to die.

So, justification for the uprising did not quite achieve the freedom you imply, did it?

Socialism is “Communism” and visa versa and the only ones who prosper under its banner are the ones at the “top”, the ruling class.

“(remember the battle was between the White and RED Russians” …

Actually, there were Black and Green factions as well. The Ukrainians, the Jews, the Southern Black Sea Russians etc…it was a furball of factions there for awhile.

And it wasn’t Stalin who came to power when the Bolsheviks finally prevailed. it was Lenin…the Stalin and Trotsky fight for Lenin’s successor began as the Bolsheviks were taking full control, but Stalin wasn’t in control at the time. fact being…his life was hangin’ by a thread as even Lenin mistrusted the guy..

Voltaire, as YOU said, the Bolsheviks perverted these symbols!!! So WHY would American students HONOR those symbols?!? You confirm my view!

I can assure you, Voltaire, it wasn’t the Russian peasentry who disposed of the Czar. Lenin perverted Marx’s theory of revolution, remember Marx said a country would have to be industrialized before the WORKERS would revolt, Lenin came up with the vanguard of the revolution. That is the elitists would lead the workers in revolt.
Interestingly, the Czar had already abdicated during the February revolution, which had installed the provisional government headed by Alexander Kerensky. Kerensky’s decision to continue the war led to the October revolution which installed Lenin and the soviets in power. The Germans contributed to this by bringing Lenin from his Swiss exile in a sealed train thru Germany to Russia.

@Flashy Lenin was starting to have suspicions about Stalin, but he had a stroke, and effectively there was a power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky. To me Stalin was a power grabbing opportunist. He had his rivals dispatched one by one by assassination, show trial or exile.
Even though Stalin had exiled Trotsky, he was so insecure that he had him killed in Mexico City.

It is not what Nancy in Nebraska believes but what history has written. You are simply an useful idiot that is passing himself off as an intellectual.

We knew what rb meant in spite of the spelling error. But what excuse do you have for being a bitch?

You forgot the public school spelling prinsapull

Wow! You are remarkably talented at the art of “turd polishing”.

And while I get your finer point, they could have cherry-picked and event worth celebrating. The only event the Russian Revolution deserves is a solemn memorial to the millions who were slaughtered in the name of Communism.

Then don’t read anything that might offend you Cliffy or attend an event that is questionable. What part of not an endorsement didn’t you comprehend? Closed minds are of little value in an open society.

L’Umanita clearly has you pegged!

This was NOT a “portrayal of history”! It was celebratory entertainment! If one wanted to play the music of that era, that would be one thing. But to dress up and include COMMUNIST symbols in the entertainment, changes it’s meaning and purpose altogether! Our government and it’s educators are quietly conditioning us for the upcoming communism! We’d better open our eyes and SEE what is happening in this country or we’ll lose it all! REAL education would show EVERYONE that communism was destructive and EVIL! It was NOT entertainment!!!

Ummm..Nancy….it was a pivotal point in World History…there’s a reason it’s called the October Revolution and I suspect the connection to the performance by an award winning band with a reputation of being on the cutting edge of performances.

If y’all want to remain ignorant…feel free. But to criticize others because they desire to learn and portray world events which have had a significant impact on this nation…and you disagree with the message so therefore it is bad….no wonder you are a TP advocate. The TP Trilogy of fear, hate, ignorance…you show it all in great abundance.

Jeesh…next thing y’know you’ll be calling for the banning of L’Internationale and a few books in the local libraries !

So it’s not important to know your history and the struggles of labor and the working man??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DTbashsKic

While this might and I emphasize MIGHT have been only a protrayel of history it was certainly poorly presented. Presenting the band as a Soviet army band flying the Soviet flag is certainly something that would be easily miss understood. It would certainly appear to be celebrating the old Soviet union and communism not mearly noting an event in history.

IT…what was the result of the October Revolution? Why should we forget it? Why should we not have cause to dwell on it..the beginnings, the civil war, the end result? Did you read anywhere from anyone at the school it was a “celebration” ? When you think of the October Revolution, what comes to mind as an image? Would it not be appropriate to give that image so as to give people substance for reflection?

And do not forget…the parents and locals didn’t seem much upset about it. Seems the folks who are going nuts are those who desire to limit the knowledge and awareness of history of labor, the working man, and the development of the union.

Shae on those who call for limiting our knowledge. Shame on those who call for having no awareness and recognition of events that shaped our nation. You call yourself a “patriot”? For what cause? For it sure as heck ain’t for America !

Up to your old tricks huh Flashy deliberately missrepresenting what people say. I never said the Russian revolution should not be recognized nor did I say the Communist participation in it should not be recognized. I said it was poorly presented and done in a way that could be too easily miss understood.

IT…i apologize. Thank you for the correction. i’ll go so far as agreeing that it could have been better presented.

Again, i apologize for the mis-reading and subsequent post characterizing your statement erroneously…

@-the flasher,eddy,gait———COMRADES————So that rainbow flag ya’ll carry is not an endorsement ???????Ya’ll ought to come here to the French Quarter.

Damn, ( never, ever) Vigilant….flying a flag is an endorsement…you sure is SMART.

The “endorsement” is sort of subject to interpretation…as in eye of the beholder….
and only a fool would believe they could read minds……

which means you sure is stupid!!!!!!!!

and a waste of time……..having fun yet?

Apparently Vigilant believes if a movie is made about the Russian Revolution/WWI or WWIII then the hammer and sickle should be left out . That the green uniforms should be left out. That Russian music should be left out. Dr Zhivago never would have been made or War and Peace or any other historical event if that era is sugar coated. Maybe purple uniforms and pink flags would be a better portrayal for you. This band may have been rather silly but I do want historical events to be accurate.

What’s so ridiculous about your post, eddie, and those of your fellow travelers, is that you know full well what a crock of faulty logic it is.

A book, a movie or documentary is DAMNED different in nature than a high school halftime show. People don’t go to a game to be instructed on historical events.

One of you communist sympathizers needs to address that hypothetical of what reaction would be forthcoming if the band marched out in Nazi SS uniforms with a blaze of Third Reich flags waving. Follow this with the school superintendent saying “It’s a representation of the time period in history called Holocaust 1939-45.”

The absolute bankruptcy of your liberal artsy-fartsy argument is apparent to all. And the lengths you go through to perpetuate the subterfuge are truly astounding. I used to think this sort of infantile logic was posted merely to tweak the tails of Conservatives as some sort of contrarian joke. I now realize it demonstrates the abject blindness of the left.

The celebration and glorification of the Russian revolution has NOTHING to do with education!!! PERIOD!!!

nancy…as a grandson of one who fought for the White Army during the Revolution, I’d say you have a few history lessons to learn. you have any idea what caused the Revolution? Did you even know that there was a Civil War fought by multiple factions before the Bolsheviks came out on top? Do you have any concept of the impact it had on the US?

Read a book…you might be enlightened.

Hey Flashy, why not put on a celebration for Charles Mansion and his “family”? After all, that is history and celebrating it keeps us from being ignorant, right?

Your logic, if you can call it that, is flawed beyond belief.

RHines…did you read somewhere about my depicting it as “celebrating” ? it was a pivotal point in world and US history. US history not just internally…but the domestic history as well. The October Revolution and subsequent civil war affected the entire world, as much as the American revolution did. And it wasn’t just because it was Russia or the US. The Taiping Rebellion in China killed millions, split that country for over a decade, and caused the ultimate downfall of the Manchu Dynasty….yet the impact upon the world and altering the course of affairs was miniscule.

As for your wanting to glorify Manson…c’mon, get real. Although…it does show the ignorance of the TPers, the need to grasp simplistic concepts and slogans fed by their controllers, the inability to delve into complexities…and their unwillingness to learn …

Neither does it have anything to do with a “Historic Event” in “American History.” But then again, look who made the statement…Flashy. Should have known. I didn’t realize it was this troll until the leave a reply to box popped up.

So tossing out the Tsar and the subsequent civil war…leading to Brest-Litovsk, followed by the Red Scare, the emergence of tolerance for unions, the omission of the entire eastern continent from Versailles, the changing of relations and tensions on the diplomatic front, the visits and subsequent teachings and lectures by people such as John Reed … naw, it had no impact on US history…none at all ….

Jeesh

Komrade utopian, ask any veteran of the Korean or Vietnam wars WHO we were fighting. Your masters have done an excellent job of turning that stale oatmeal between your ears into manure. The true test of a functioning, worthwhile mind is whether or not that mind can recognize common sense. Your ‘;mind’ is so flawed and defective that it seems you’d be happier in another country.
You, like so many other mental midgets, think communism is dead. Komrade, if you are so fond of anything that smacks of communism, please move to China. They’re looking for ways to bolster their economy, and they’re casting sneaky eyes toward Japan as their new “enemy.” It’s the modern Chinese version of an old FDR trick.
Komrade, I am so grateful that I don’t know you or live in the same community. Granted, your education is pathetic, but then utopians really don’t need a good education. Anybody can learn to lie, cheat, backstab, or look at treason as a virtue. You’re a real piece of work, komrade. Been ‘fixed’ yet? Think of it as a form of Planned NonParenthood. Think of it as a way to placate Mama Earth (and Al “duh” Gore). Snip, snip. And you’re CURED!

I’m going to cut Flashy some slack on this one, after all the results of the Russian revolution led to the preeminent foreign policy worry for the US from the end of World War II to the early 1990′s. And yes Flashy I knew there was a Civil War in Russia, I also know the western powers sent troops there, hence their inherent distrust of the west. For those of you who don’t knw what Brest-Litovsk it was the peace between Germany and Russia that freed up German troops to be shipped to the western front for their Michael offensive, timed to go before the weight of American troops were felt.

John Reed wrote the book 10 Days That Shook the World, an eyewitness account of the revolution.

dear flashy what would you think of the band dressed in white sheets and a burning cross

Flashy, I’ve seen you do some trashy things on this site, but attempting to justify an offensive display of hammer and sickle philosophy in the name of “impact on US history” takes the cake.

I’d say Hitler had one hell of an impact on US history. Perhaps you’d justify the flying of swastika banners from a marching band dressed in SS uniforms.

Sometimes you just puzzle me.

While I’m at it, flying a flag is a tacit endorsement of what it symbolizes, What part of that do you not comprehend?

What that band did was despicable.

Flashy,
You’re speaking to a wall. Most of the folks on this site can’t see past right wing ideology. I often wonder if they wouldn’t prefer our schools restrict history to those events that fit into their narrow view of “American excellence.” Sure, the French helped us win independence from the English, but what really matters is that they are cowards. Sure, we were worked with the Russians to defeat Hitler, but all that matters is that they were communists (though in reality they weren’t.)

Having been a member and a leader of a high school marching band I can tell you that a lot of odd ideas come up in an attempt to be original. A series of shows depicting major events in world history is not the most unusual I’ve ever heard of. Would these folks have been so upset if they had depicted the life of Christ?

@-the flasher——–COMRADE—————-So I guess that it would be all right to bring the nazi sign back as well—–maybe you already have one———-What a puke—————–This is the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and WE already have OUR OWN FLAG ,COMRADE.

Flashy,
So I guess your all for the Swastikas next year when they celebrate the nazis!

There is a big difference between learning about a major event and glorifying it. What is the band doing for next year? Putting on brown shirts and goose-stepping onto the field to celebrate the huge social revolution in Germany circa 1933, playing the Horst Wetzel Lied? At least it’s a catchy tune.

@-tigeer——–Why would anybody want to celebrate such a MURDEROUS system,in all their ‘creativity’,they could NOT find something that would PROMOTE LIBERTY AND FREEDOM,such as THE AMERICAN FLAG DOES ?????????
Sounds like the teachers unions have taken over with their indoctrination and DUMBING DOWN of OUR children to the TRUE VALUE of the AMERICAN FLAG.And these are the same teachers unions that are on strike for more pay and benefits !!!!!!!!!!!!—————WHAT A BUNCH OF PUKES—————–

A lot of people in Pennsylvania are descended from southern families and the Rebel flag is a part of their heritage. I think you see where that argument is going.

No, actually, I don’t. The Confederate flag is, also, part of our history.

Most people from Pennsylvania are of Dutch or German heritage. However, the only surge of Russians settling in PA were the White Russians, who left their homeland because they opposed communism and Bolshevik rule. So the only way they would be “honoring their ancestors” would be if they told the story of the resistance to he Revolution, culminating in the failed counter-revolution and their escape from the Leninist regime, ending with them coming to America as fellow opponents to tyranny.

It sure is fun to make baseless assumptions until someone brings actually facts, isn’t it tlgeer? I hate to break it to you, but America since its initial settling was seen as a haven for the oppressed and freedom-seeking. We can be here all week long saying how any small immigrant group is destroying the moral fiber of a America, but the real degradation of our society comes from those with preconceived notions of prejudice and an unwillingness to seek truth.